A week ago, the New York Liberty was one of the contenders for the WNBA championship despite a fifth-place finish in the league standings. But the Phoenix Mercury proved too strong for the defending champions, knocking them out in the first series only. While there were chatters around HC Sandy Brondello’s future, the management didn’t waste time moving forward without the 57-year-old coach.
At first, fans reacted harshly to Brondello’s unexpected firing; they now have a definite reason for the decision from the Liberty management. GM Jonathan Kolb answered the questions about the future and also provided reasons for sacking the HC.
Jonathan Kolb Talks About The Reason For Sandy Brondello’s Firing
After the exit from the 2025 playoffs, an interviewer asked about Brondello’s uncertain future with the Liberty team. Breanna Stewart fiercely defended Brondello, saying that she has the team’s backing. But four days later, news about HC’s sacking came out, which surprised many.
Brondello was New York’s winningest coach, with two top-position finishes, two WNBA finals appearances, one WNBA title, and one Commissioner’s Cup title in just four seasons. While her resume and record make her the ‘most successful coach’ in the franchise’s history, the Liberty front office decided to change the voice in the locker room.
GM Jonathan Kolb gave reasons for the decision, highlighting that it’s not about results but about moving ahead with intent and adjusting to the ever-evolving WNBA.
“This decision was in no way punitive, nor was it reactive — but it’s instead rooted in being proactive. Nor was this decision based solely on the results this past season. Ultimately, we determined that evolution and innovation is what is needed at this time. This is not a results-based organization. This is not about not winning or winning. It’s about how do we position ourselves to be at the top of the league in a real sustainable way as the league does evolve in the ways we’re talking about on the floor,” Kolb said in the press conference.
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NY Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb addresses the decision not to retain Coach Sandy Brondello’s contract for 2026.#wnba #nyliberty pic.twitter.com/nKivRpdMgb
— NYLFTV (@NYLibertyFanTV) September 25, 2025
The GM rather praised Brondello as a coach and as a person, mentioning that she did a wonderful job navigating through the player injuries and also keeping the team at a contender level. While Kolb did not mention any specific names as a replacement, Lindsey Harding is rumored to replace Brondello.
Sandy Brondello Survived An Extra Season Courtesy Of The 2024 Championship
According to reports, the Liberty front office only decided to move ahead without Brondello in 2024. The former Mercury coach joined the Liberty team in 2022 and led them to the finals in the 2023 season. While they lost in the final, the franchise gave her another chance.
In 2024, the Liberty once again finished with a 32-8 record, finishing at the top of the league standings. However, management was not happy with Brondello’s approach to games and waited for the season to conclude. Eventually, Brondello led the team to its first-ever championship, giving her another year at the franchise.
Kolb said New York leaned into continuity this season by bringing Brondello back with its core. They even added some key faces to provide her with an opportunity to win big. But a fifth-place finish and an early exit in the 2025 playoffs ended her tenure at the NY franchise.